What is the purpose of the 'userdel' command?

The 'userdel' command is specifically designed to delete a user account from the system. When you execute this command with the appropriate user identifier, it removes the specified user's account and, depending on the options used, may also delete the user's home directory and any associated files. This command is essential for system administrators managing user accounts, ensuring that they can effectively control access to the system by removing users who no longer require access.

Creating a new user is the function of a different command, typically 'useradd'. Modifying user permissions is accomplished with the 'usermod' command, which allows alterations to existing user accounts. Displaying user information can be done using commands like 'id', 'finger', or 'getent', which provide details about user accounts but do not delete them. Understanding the specific role of the 'userdel' command helps in the effective management of user accounts in a Linux environment.